TL;DR

Low-key rooftop elegance

The vibe

The crowd

The drinks

The food

Our Review

First impression?Have I walked inside a jewel box from 1931? I love the 1920-30s aesthetic atop the landmark Beekman Tower in Manhattan's Midtown East neighborhood, including restored elements of the original c.1928 rooftop (those arched, glass panels), a rich red-and-blue color palette (over classic black-and-white squared tiling), and vintage artifacts on display (think: flapper hats and century-old tarot cards). It's at once feminine and masculine, bold and beautiful.

Cool. So who’s there?The crowd is filled with Manhattanites, who feel like the lucky few who've been let in on the secret of this new, under-the-radar rooftop lounge. The demographic is mostly late 20s to early 40s, coming for an after-work drink or a romantic setting for an impressive second or third-date. The crowd definitely cares about mixology and cocktail presentation.

How are the drinks?Their menu is small but well curated. There are a few classics (with a twist) but most cocktails skew creative—interesting mixes of ingredients and artistically presented garnishes. Don't miss the "Bullet Proof" (Rittenhouse rye, St. Germain, tumeric, chili, lemon, botanical bitters, and egg white) or "Ophelia’s Ascension" (smoked jamaican pepper infused del maguey, Vida mezcal, Makers mark, Sri Lankan palm sugar, aromatic bitters, and cedar smoke).

Worth ordering something to eat, too?There's also a small but well curated bar bites menu (eight dishes) that matches the excellence of the cocktail menu. Order the chili honey-topped ahi tuna tartare and the chef's selection of Hudson Valley cheeses.

Did the staff do you right?Bar staff was shockingly attentive—atypical of a rooftop bar. Our water glasses were constantly filled, and our waitress came to check on us regularly. We never had to search for her to order another round. She was well versed in the menu and had personally sampled all the cocktails and food items, thus steering us in the right direction with our choices.

Wrap it up: what are we coming here for?This is rooftop fun for adults. It's not too crowded, not too loud and not pretentious. It's a great place where you can have a good conversation (and even likely discuss the design-driven surrounds). The setting is also exceptionally romantic. Overall, Ophelia is a place to go for memorable one-on-one time with someone awesome or a fun, chill time with two to three friends.